Interior and Spatial Design

Course Overview

Students on our course produce designs for residential, retail, and work-based spaces as well as undertaking projects for the leisure, hospitality and event and performance industries. Our course will give you the opportunity to work with private and public spaces and within a wide range of buildings and sites as you develop as a versatile designer. The course covers the conceptual, theoretical and practical skills needed to become a successful Interior and Spatial Designer. We look for creative thinkers who respond to the challenges of working locally, in London, nationally and internationally.

Create stunning designs through drawings, scale models and visuals

You will learn how to successfully complete all aspects of design projects from initial site visits and client briefings through to final presentations. We will teach you studio and workshop based model-making skills using our laser cutting and 3D prototyping equipment. You'll be taught drawing and CAD visualisation techniques using AutoCAD, Rhino and Photoshop, so that you can present your work with confidence.

Understand the theory as well as the practice of design

We teach historical and contextual studies, giving you a knowledge of the relationship between design theory and practice. You'll also analyse the material qualities of spaces so that you can specify fixtures and fittings.

Through group reviews of work and presentations to clients, you will develop your communication skills to a professional standard and learn to work as part of a design team. Developing as a multi-disciplinary designer with a diverse portfolio, you focus on a particular area of Interior and Spatial Design with your final major project in your third year of the course.

More placements, more choices

Bucks is a Placements Plus university. So, whatever degree you do, you can be sure there’ll be plenty of industry-relevant opportunities on offer, to help you get into your chosen field.

We’ll also prepare you for work beforehand, with special skills for work training, further boosting your CV, and building skills employers will value. In recognition of the value we place on these skills we have incorporated this experience into your study time.

Placements Plus is all about helping you get some valuable experience under your belt while you’re a student. To increase your choices later, and help you get the graduate-level job you want.

Course Details

UCAS CODE: 1W97, W240

Tutors on our long-established course are involved with design practice and research. Members of the course team have experience in interior design, exhibition design, landscape design, engineering, model-making, design for performance, design visualisation and animation.

We have a wide range of workshops, enabling you to produce work in a wide variety of media. For each of the three years that you are with us, you'll have your own designated work space in our design studios.

Create innovative designs in our professional standard studio and workshops

This course is 75% practice-based so you will have ample opportunity to develop your subject through a hands-on, experimental approach. This will involve access to workshops to support the design process.

Working for clients

Recently, students from the course have worked on projects with Bouygues Development, Murray Chalmers Music PR, the Victoria and Albert Museum, The Showroom London, Space-pod Bourne End and Pentagram London.

Our students have displayed their work in local galleries and practices as well as at venues and events in London such as the V&A Museum and at New Designers. We also offer you the opportunity to travel to New York and a European city for study tours and to participate on our Erasmus exchange programme.

What are the course entry requirements?

A typical offer will be a UCAS Tariff score of 80. A minimum of two full A-levels (or equivalent) is required. Every application is considered on an individual basis.

For further details of our international English entry requirements, please visit our international pages.

Applicants who do not meet the minimum requirements for the three-year undergraduate programme, or those who do not feel fully prepared for a degree course, can apply for a four-year programme including a Foundation Year; find out more.

Course Modules

Module Map

This module map provides a list of the modules that make up your course.

Each module is worth a specified number of credits (typically either 15 or 30 credits for undergraduate courses). Compulsory (or ‘core’) modules cover key subject knowledge, while ‘option’ modules enable you to develop your own interests. For a full-time course you must take modules worth a total of 120 credits at each level of the course. The number of option modules you can take depends on the number of compulsory modules at each level. You can find more information about how your course is structured via the Academic Advice pages.

Our teaching is informed by research and employer requirements, and modules change periodically to reflect developments in the subject area. In addition, where we have insufficient numbers of students interested in an option module, this may not be offered. If an option module does not run, we will advise you as soon as possible and help you choose an alternative module.

The modules available on this course are as follows:

Year 1 Modules

Critical and Historical Studies - Historical and Critical Thinking

Design Tools

Interior Design

Spatial Design

Year 2 Modules

Critical and Historical Studies - Design Research and Theory

Design + Detail

Retail Design

Professional Studies

Year 3 Modules

Critical and Historical Studies - Dissertation

Advanced Design Studio

Professional Practice

Fees

How much does it cost

Full Time Home and EU, September 2019: £9,250 per year

Full Time International, September 2019: £12,000 per year

Full Time Home and EU, February 2020: £9,250 per year

Full Time International, February 2020: £12,000 per year

Most courses will involve some additional costs that are not covered by your fees.

Related Video

Teaching team

Student Testimonials

Our students are our best ambassadors and their voices here will provide you with a clear sense of their Bucks experience.

Danielle Bailey

I was attracted to this degree after attending a taster session through my Diploma in Foundation Studies in Art Design and Media at Bucks.

Studying the foundation year at Bucks opened up a whole new pathway for me as I was able to discover the world of creating in 3D.

The Interior and Spatial Design degree allowed me to explore an area of design I had not yet encountered which I found intriguing, leading to a more engaging learning experience. Learning computer skills was also a challenge but rewarding.

I would definitely recommend Bucks New University to anyone thinking of studying due to the friendliness and attentiveness of the people at the University.

Anna Lee Laferlla

Four years ago, I applied to Bucks New University to do a degree in Interior and Spatial Design not knowing what I wanted to do with my life and I have never looked back since!

I now work for one of the most successful commercial interior companies in the UK as a project designer. I am designing buildings, creating space plans, proposals, meeting clients as well as creating stunning visualisations and even models in my day to day life. Without studying at BNU i would never be where i am today.

I would certainly recommend the course to anyone remotely interested in design and to help you find out what your future is in how to apply it to many different fields to help you to get the best career possible! It was amazing and I would do it again if I could!

Employability

What are my career prospects

As a contemporary designer, you'll have excellent knowledge of recent developments in the field of Interior and Spatial design. Our graduates have gone on to work in interior design, exhibition design, event design and architectural practices as well as in museums and galleries.

Jobs in the field include: Interior Designer, Interior Decorator, Exhibition and Event Designer, Visual Merchandiser, Display Designer, Production and Set Designer or Model-Maker.

How will you help me prepare for my future career?Throughout your time with us we'll support you on the route to your chosen career. Through our modules and teaching expertise we'll help you to develop crucial skills, encouraging you to become an enterprising and employable designer.

During the second year of the course, our students are encouraged to participate in work experience where they gain insight into the world of professional design practice, gathering confidence and learning independent inter-personal and leadership skills. Some of our students choose to continue their studies at post graduate level.

We also help you find employment after graduation. Have a look at our Careers and Employability pages to find out more.What our students say

"I thoroughly enjoyed studying Interior and Spatial Design at Bucks New University and the Art and Design facilities and tutoring were all very helpful in guiding me to where I am today."-Daisy Munns

"During this course I have had the opportunity to confidently develop a variety of skills whilst exploring the many aspects of interior and spatial design. By gaining diverse experience through theoretical and live projects, I have broadened my knowledge and learnt how to articulate my ideas effectively whilst learning translatable studio and design software skills." - Natalie Parkins

"Studying at Bucks New University I had the opportunity to explore all aspects of interior and spatial design. Having tutors with a breadth of knowledge encouraged me to experiment, develop as a designer and hone my skills that have made me employable." - George Hill

Awards

Industry partners

The Big Deal

At Bucks, we believe in putting our students first. That’s why our Students’ Union have developed our exclusive ‘Big Deal’ package. We’re the only university in the UK to offer free access to such a diverse and exciting range of activities – all to enrich the university experience.

We offer FREE events and entertainment, additional skills workshops, sports, recreational activities, societies and paid student rep schemes. All at one of the top 10 Students’ Unions in the UK. It’s a big deal!